All sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at TJHS attended four sessions of the “Catch My Breath” vaping prevention program that started in December 2021. Nearly 500 students learned about the harmful effects of e-cigarette use as well as strategies to stand up to peer pressure. Students who wished to quit vaping were also provided the resources to do so.

The Community Project Award recognizes hospitals that implement projects to strengthen and improve the well-being of their communities. This is the first year for the award, which was presented on Nov. 10.

“We are proud that our work to reduce vaping among young people has been recognized by the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network,” said Darin Buttz, TMH director of community health. “Lung health was identified as a top community health priority in our 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, and the work we’re doing with these students has the potential to prevent lung disease and other serious health problems in the decades to come.”

More than 92% of students who completed the “Catch My Breath” program said in a survey that they were less likely to vape as a result of what they’d learned.